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U.S. DIVERSITY VISA PHOTO

DV Lottery photo requirements: check the square file first

Photos are processed in your browser. They are never uploaded to any server.

For an online Diversity Visa entry, the photo must be a JPEG, exactly 600 × 600 pixels, square, and no larger than 240 kB. A paper photo scan has extra rules. Which one are you preparing?

The online entry checklist

The U.S. Department of State photo requirements specify the digital image format and dimensions for DV Program entrants:

Those are file checks. The portrait must also meet the Department of State’s photo composition rules: a recent color image, plain white or off-white background, full-face view, neutral expression and both eyes open. The head must occupy 50% to 69% of the image height. Glasses are not allowed in new visa photos except for a narrow documented medical exception.

If you scan a printed photo

A scanned photo still has to meet the digital file limits above. The source print must also be 2 × 2 inches (51 × 51 mm), scanned at 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter). The online entry image is still 600 × 600 pixels. A 2 × 2 inch print scanned at 300 ppi produces that square size.

Do not reuse an old entry photo

Use a photo that reflects your current appearance. The Department of State warns against submitting the same photograph from a previous DV entry, even if it still meets the file specifications. A compliant square crop does not make an old or altered portrait current.

  1. Start with a new, clear color original.
  2. Crop without stretching the face or cutting off the head.
  3. Export JPEG at exactly 600 × 600 pixels.
  4. Check the saved file size is at or below 240 kB.
  5. Open the exported file and inspect the actual image before upload.

Applying for a different U.S. visa category? Check that route’s instructions separately. A DS-160 upload and a DV entry can share technical rules, but they are separate application steps.

Requirements checked against the U.S. Department of State page on September 23, 2026. The consular authority decides whether a photo is acceptable.